Plenty of eyes are on the exciting conference race in the SEC this season and there will certainly be focus on this Tuesday night matchup. Both Kentucky and Vanderbilt are looking to assert themselves in this race and to put themselves in the best position possible for the rest of the season and eventually March Madness. Who gets that win in Nashville?
Even though this Kentucky (14-6) team has had significant struggles this season, the Wildcats are playing their best basketball here in late January. The Wildcats blew some regrettable opportunities, including a home loss to Missouri a few weeks ago, but since then Kentucky has run off 5 straight wins, including that tough one on the road against Tennessee. This matchup will be no simpler for Mark Pope’s squad as they’ve catapulted themselves back up the SEC standings in recent weeks.
It’s the opposite issue for Vanderbilt (17-3), as the Commodores ran off 16 straight wins to start the season before hitting their own rough patch. Mark Byington’s team was on fire for more than two months and won several impressive games before those three straight losses, including a blowout loss at Arkansas just last week. This team did get back on the wagon with a blowout win at Mississippi State but will hope to make even more of a statement.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt: When and Where
Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 9:00 pm ET
Location: Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch: ESPN
Streaming: FuboTV
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt: Betting Odds
Spread: Vanderbilt -6.5, Kentucky +6.5
Moneyline: Vanderbilt -290, Kentucky +240
Total: 158.5
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt: Series History
All-time series: Kentucky leads 158-50
Last meeting: Kentucky 82, Vanderbilt 61 (February 19, 2025)
Projected Starting Lineups
Kentucky Wildcats
Otega Oweh (16.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Denzel Aberdeen (12.3 ppg, 3.2 apg)
Collin Chandler (9.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
Malachi Moreno (8.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
Andrija Jelavic (5.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Vanderbilt Commodores
Tyler Tanner (17.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.3 apg)
Duke Miles (16.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.3 apg)
Tyler Nickel (14.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Devin McGlockton (10.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
AK Okereke (8.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Nearly every game in the SEC is a battle and these two teams know that Tuesday will be no different. Part of what sunk Kentucky earlier in the season was rough shooting from outside the arc. Their shot making has certainly been better during this winning streak and was necessary in their recent road wins. Clearly Vanderbilt needs to contain those opportunities for the Wildcats and do a better job against Moreno and this frontcourt. What’s sunk the Commodores recently has been getting outworked inside the arc. Whichever team brings the intensity on defense likely has the edge, though Vanderbilt is certainly happy to be back in their home arena again.
Will we see this valiant Kentucky team be able to make the plays to steal another notable game on the road in the SEC? Can the Commodores continue to put that losing streak behind them and show up in a big way against the Wildcats?